Discipline – Page 2 – Praying Pint

148. Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, you yourself must bear the consequences

1 Kings 13:33 After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places. And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth.

At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”

Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.”

When she came, she pretended to be another woman. But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with unbearable news for you. Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: “Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over my people Israel and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my eyes, but you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back, therefore behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will burn up the house of Jeroboam, as a man burns up dung until it is all gone. Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat, for the Lord has spoken it.”’ Arise therefore, go to your house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something pleasing to the Lord, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. Moreover, the Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam today. And henceforth, the Lord will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and root up Israel out of this good land that he gave to their fathers and scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherim, provoking the Lord to anger. And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned and made Israel to sin.

Isaiah 44:20 a deluded heart has led him astray

Psalms 50:17     For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.

Nehemiah 9:26    “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies.

Ezekiel 23:35   Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, you yourself must bear the consequences

Not listening to a warning does not end well. Rejecting the word of God and its application in your life does not end well. Closing your heart and mind to things of God does not end well. Leaning on your own understanding, knowledge, wisdom does not end well. Living with God at arm’s length away does not end well. Not spending time in God’s word each day does not end well. Thinking God is only there for you to call on Him when in trouble and not needing Him other times does not end well. Not being intentional each day with the choice to humbly serve, honor, follow, trust, and obey God does not end well. Thinking there is another time in the future where you will commit more, serve and trust more fully does not end well. Thinking you are good enough does not end well. Thinking you can find satisfaction apart from God does not end well. Being lukewarm in your walk with God does not end well. Being neglectful and complacent does not end well. All of these lead us down false paths of hope and peace but they are able to give nothing. They all encourage you to cast God’s word behind your back.

Stay in His word. Choose to keep it in front of you. Do not cast it behind your back. Choose to seek him in the morning, mid-day, and evening. Keep His word close to your heart and live to honor and glorify Him.

55. I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.

Deuteronomy 28:15 “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.

“The Lord will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me. The Lord will make the pestilence stick to you until he has consumed you off the land that you are entering to take possession of it. The Lord will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with blight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish. And the heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron. The Lord will make the rain of your land powder. From heaven dust shall come down on you until you are destroyed.

Leviticus 26:14-46     “But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments,  if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant,  then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.  I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you.  And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins,  and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze.  And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.  “Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins.

Lamentations 2:17     The LORD has done what he purposed; he has carried out his word, which he commanded long ago; he has thrown down without pity

Daniel 9:11-13    All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him.  He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.

Malachi 2:2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.

Romans 2:8-9     but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.  There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil,

I wonder if we take these curses as something that will happen to really wicked people and does not apply to those who are for the most part “Good”. We tend to put people (others) into one box and we place ourselves in another. Their box is the box of God’s wrath and anger and our box is the box of God’s mercy and grace. My sin is under a blanket of love and theirs is under a thunderstorm of curses.

Complacency and neglect of God’s word lead to drifting away from Him, becoming lukewarm to Him, unable to know what is right and pure, blind to the ways of righteousness, deaf to God’s leading, and allows the way of the world to become a driving influence into your thoughts and actions. The problem is you don’t even see it happening. Like a frog in a pot that is slowing being heated up, it is boiled alive because it was unaware.

I think the worst place for a “believer” to be is in a place of neglect and complacency. Busyness and cares of this life slowly carry them away from walking with God, listening to God, honoring God. It is truly sad to see God’s word being taken for granted and not needed but for special troubling times.

God’s word says “Depart from Me for I never knew you” and “So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

There is no time like today to commit to being in His word and humbly serving, honoring, loving, following, and obeying God. God’s word is life, hope, purpose, bread to the soul, water to the thirsty, music to the heart, air to the drowning, and understanding and knowledge to the soul.

40. There is none like you, O LORD

Deuteronomy 3:24 “And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?

Nehemiah 9:32     “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us,

Psalms 106:2     Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all his praise?

Psalms 145:3     Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

Psalms 145:6     They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.

Deuteronomy 11:2    And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it), consider the discipline of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm,

Exodus 15:11     “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Jeremiah 32:18-21    You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts,  great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.  You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day.  You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror.

Psalms 71:19    Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?

Jeremiah 10:6     There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might.

2 Samuel 7:22    Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Isaiah 40:25    To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

Isaiah 40:18     To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?

If you were asked who is God or what is God how would you reply? Our understanding of Him starts with; Romans 1:19-20 For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Psalms 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

We would answer the question based on our understanding and knowledge of Him, our relationship with Him, and our closeness to Him. Time with Him and time spent seeking Him and time spent desiring Him and time spent worshiping Him, and time spent praying to Him, and time spent relying on Him, and time spent trusting Him and time spent hoping in Him, and time spent clinging to Him, and time spent following Him, and time spent obeying Him, and time spent listening to Him, and time spent in His word all develop, grow and nurture how we would answer these questions.

Think how hard it would be to answer these questions if you neglect or become complacent in your walk with Him. Even if you have a close walk with Him we seem to be limited in an adequate reply. All the words of the world would not scratch the surface of who God is. That is how awesome He is.

These lyrics of a song by Natalie Grant explain how we limit God by how we think of Him:

I tried to fit you in the walls inside my mind. I try to keep you safely in between the lines, I try to put you in the box that I’ve designed. I try to pull you down so we are eye to eye.

When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world? I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world. How could I make you so small? When you’re the one who holds it all. When did I forget that you’ve always been the king of the world?

Just a whisper of your voice can tame the seas. So who am I to try to take the lead. Still, I run ahead and think I’m strong enough. When you’re the one who made me from the dust.

Oh, you set it all in motion. Every single moment. You brought it all to me. And you’re holding on to me.

38. The refining process – Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial

Numbers 2:7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”

Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my

Psalms 139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

Zachariah 14:9 And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

1 Peter 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

God knows our life inside out, what we think, what we do, where we go and He still loves us. In this love, He will not condone sin. He will not approve of that which is in our life that does not honor and glorify Him. He will not bless our sin. He will not lead us into sin.

He will test us. He will reprove our sin. He will expose our sin. He will discipline us for sin. He will convict our soul of sin. He will refine us. He will guide us. He will lead us to a choice of repentance and stand at our heart’s door ready to take us in His loving arms.

Do we see “testing”, “refining”, and “discipline” from God as a blessing? Can we recognize His calling us out of our sin? Are we able to hear His calling? If we hear His calling are we willing to open the door of our heart, soul, and mind and invite Him in? Do we live with anticipation of conviction, refining, confession, and forgiveness?

God has called us to holy humbleness service. This side of eternity our life is a blessed refining process resulting in praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

If we choose to be complacent in our walk with Him and neglect time in His word seeking knowledge and understanding, how are we to escape punishment and curse? Loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind is an intentional commitment that fully wants only to honor and glorify God in all that is thought, said, and done. This intentional commitment lives with anticipation of wanting and being refined. David said it like this: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

34. Be sure your sin will find you out.

Numbers 32:23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.

Deuteronomy 28:15-68 “But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. “The LORD will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do,… The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of mind, and you shall grope at noonday, as the blind grope in darkness…. and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually, so that you are driven mad by the sights that your eyes see….“All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God,… They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things,… And as the LORD took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the LORD will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you…. Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread and have no assurance of your life.

Leviticus 26:14-46 “But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic,…And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins, and I will break the pride of your power,…“Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins….“But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins….their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me,

Of all the ways, says Dr. South, to be taken for the prevention of that great plague of mankind, Sin, there is none so rational and efficacious as to confute and baffle those motives by which men are induced to embrace it; and among all such motives, the heart of man seems to be chiefly overpowered and prevailed upon by two, viz. secrecy in committing sin, and impunity with respect to its consequences. God assures us, that how covertly and secretly we move into sin our sin would infallibly find us out. Though the subject and occasion of these words are indeed particular during the proclamation of the law, yet the design of them is universal in application. Isaiah 3:11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him. Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. 1 Corinthians 4:5 who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Sin, obedience, and serving God with a humble heart and mind are not spoken of much anymore. What is being spoken of are Grace, Mercy, and Love of God and neatly tied with a little red bow of prosperity, blessing, and problem free life. God has not changed and just because we are living in a time where it appears His wrath is being restrained does not mean we are guiltless. If we are not approaching each new day with our deepest heart and mind’s desire to humbly honor, glorify, seek, serve, follow, and obey Him, we are being very neglectful and complacent with our walk with Him. How do you know if you are sinning against God if your eyes are blind and your ears are dull or deaf to His word? How can you have wisdom and knowledge of His holiness and your sinfulness if His word is not seen as a means to gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding? How can He be a light in your life if you choose to live in darkness caused by a complacent approach to serving Him?

The truth is you cannot. Living in complacent neglect allows the heart and mind to be influenced by culture, society, and human nature – “doing what seems right in your own eyes”

There are consequences – God assures us, that how covertly and secretly we move into sin our sin will find us out. Choose to walk each day in the light of His word for the single purpose of humbly serving and honoring Him.

19. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

Exodus 34:10   And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

Deuteronomy 4:32-37     “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of.  Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live?  Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?  To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.  Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.  And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power,

Deuteronomy 32:30    How could one have chased a thousand, and two have put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had given them up?

Joshua 10:12-13     At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”  And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

Psalms 77:14    You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.

Deuteronomy 10:21     He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.

Psalms 65:5    By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas;

Psalms 145:6     They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.

We choose to serve, honor, worship, serve, follow, and obey God. We choose in light of what He has done, what He is doing, and what He has promised. To choose we must have a heart, mind, and soul desiring to intentionally commit to Him above self, above issue, above odds, above what we can see, above what others say, and above satan’s lies.

Our culture will blind us to Him and His awesomeness if our eyes are not on Him. Our culture will steal our time away from Him. Our culture will cater to our selfishness and steal our focus away from Him. Our culture will shout loud and clear to deafen our ears to His leading. Our culture is no different than any other culture in the past. They have been the same in every sense.

There is only one way to shut down this influence and open up to God – It is by choice. This choice is a life change commitment, a desire change commitment, a new way of thinking commitment, a new way of acting commitment, a new creation!!!!! Born again!!!!

This commitment must start with turning to God, confessing sin, trusting in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross, clinging to Jesus, relying on Jesus, living for Jesus, desiring to honor and glorify Him, seeking to hear Him and a want to obey Him.

Stay in His Word.

I will bring back the strayed

Psalms 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Ezekiel 34:16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Matthew 18:12-13 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

Luke 15:4-7 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

John 10:16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

1 Peter 2:25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jeremiah 31:18 I have heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God.

Galatians 4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge

Do you find yourself lost and life’s trials weighing you down? The Psalmist came to the understanding that apart from God we wander and get lost in life. Oh, we try to make sense of it but in the end we are just chasing one thing after another to fill the void of being apart from God. Always seeking but never finding that which fulfills our soul.

You will find the more time you spend in God’s word there is a continually new and ever increasing understanding need for God and your dependence upon Him. Love for and dedication to the word of God does not make us more spiritually independent, but more spiritually dependent upon God. The word of God leads us to salvation, repentance. understanding, deliverance, ability to worship God rightly, power to live an upright life, and strength to persevere.

His word is a light onto our soul and a guide to our feet. Through His word your are shown love, peace, joy, hope, faith, strength, and understanding. Humbly serve Him today and you will find Him more than sufficient.

Hear and Learn

Deuteronomy 31:12 Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Psalms 78:4-8 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 11:2 And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it), consider the discipline of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm,

We have an awesome responsibility and privilege to speak of God and live for Him so that others might hear and see the hope we have in the power, might, strength, grace, love, and mercy of God.

We should not take this lightly for each day gives us opportunity to bring glory, honor and praise to Him. God’s word spoken will not return void, our prayers will not be unheard, and a softening of their heart can take place. Yet at the end of the day it each persons choice to believe in God and through faith come to salvation through Christ.

When we believe, and are saved, redeemed, forgiven and have heart, mind, and soul deep knowledge and understanding of God and the everlasting light He has opened up to us, it is hard to make sense of how we lived and believed before. We are born again, a new creation, where all things are new and morning by morning new mercies we see.

God’s word in our lives each day will have purpose for growing our love for Him and faith in Him. Many will try to make sense of the world through wisdom of man, denying God. Be mindful we too were once lost and without hope. Live to bring light of God to those still living in darkness. You never know who those who choose to live in darkness will have their heart softened by God through you. Tell of all of his glorious works, wonders, might, and ever lasting love for those who call upon Him.

The entrance and unfolding of His word

“Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Psalms 119:129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name. Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Luke 1:77-79 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 5:13-14 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

2 Peter 1:19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Proverbs 1:22-23 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

“Let us not enter into the testimonies, as a dry task, or an ordinary study; but let us concentrate our minds, our faith, humility, and prayer, in a more devoted contemplation of them.” (Bridges)

“obedience in more than outward action; it was obedience in soul.”

“It is painful to remember how much light may be shining around us on every side, without finding an entrance into the heart.” (Bridges)

“The word finds no entrance into some minds because they are blocked up with self-conceit, or prejudice, or indifference; but where due attention is given, divine illumination must surely follow upon knowledge of the mind of God.” (Spurgeon)

The Light of God’s word

Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word! Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Ephesians 5:13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,

Psalms 19:8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

Psalms 43:3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;

Psalms 18:28 For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.

Job 29:3 when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,

We can know, as we walk the road of life, the word of God will make our steps clear.We would not know where to step without the guidance of God’s word. It is possible to walk the path of life not knowing where our steps fall. We don’t know if our foot will step on good ground or dangerous ground; we are not self-aware. God’s word will be a lamp to our feet. Simply said, the Bible should help us walk the way God wants us to walk. Think of all the different words we use to describe how a person walks: stroll, saunter, amble, trudge, plod, dawdle, hike, tramp, tromp, slog, stomp, march, stride, sashay, glide, troop, patrol, wander, ramble, tread, prowl, promenade, roam, traipse, mosey, and perambulate. Just as different words show that there are many different ways to walk, God’s word has many different ways to light our paths.

How are we to walk? “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” – “they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness” – “and to walk humbly with your God” – “walk in the light as He is in the light”. None of these are possible without the light of God’s word lighting our way.

“Thus is our passage in a dark and perilous way irradiated by the lamp and light of the word. But except the lamp be lighted – except the teaching of the Spirit accompany the word, all is darkness – thick darkness. Let us not be content to read the word without obtaining some light from it in our understanding.” (Bridges)

“One of the most practical benefits of God’s word is guidance in the acts of daily life; it is not sent to astound us with its brilliance, but to guide us by its instruction.” (Spurgeon)

The word of God is light and brings light; it doesn’t make things darker or harder to understand. It is a book of LIGHT.